Live Tonight: Tag 2.0, Ed Sheeran

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Ever-industrious Seattle music titan Marco Collins is behind Tag 2.0, a five-band music showcase he’s calling a “social experiment of sorts.” As he puts it, the concept is to make “each artist’s set blend into the next,” meaning all five groups will contribute to a single set, with only one rehearsal allowed during soundcheck. This raises tons of questions—like if bands will swap instruments during live songs, or swap members, etc.—but the thrill of the unknown seems to be what Collins is after. Plus, rumor has it that at least one band on the bill will perform under a pseudonym, so this unique event—more like a game show—is bound to offer a few surprises. With Lovecitylove, Gozer, Blake Lewis, Hightek Lowlives, Aaron Daniel. Chop Suey, 1325 E. Madison St., 324-8005, chopsuey.com. 8 p.m. $10. 21 and over. GWENDOLYN ELLIOTT

Sometime between John Mayer’s confession of his racist tendencies to Playboy and now, Ed Sheeran took his place as pop rock’s favorite languishing lark. For all the bells and whistles (e.g., pretentiously naming his albums after mathematical symbols—what’s on tap for album #3, an equals sign?), Sheeran’s musical DNA—a credible masculine falsetto and piquant raps bolstered by unexpectedly gritty lyrics—makes him interesting enough to avoid the industry’s infamous sophomore slump. Although his ubiquitous headphone commercial has ruined “Don’t” for me, the rest of Sheeran’s second record, X, is listenable and surprisingly upbeat compared to his debut album, +. Sheeran is known for clinging to his acoustic guitar and eschewing big stage production in live performances. The authenticity angle works well for debut ballads like “The A Team,” but may be harder to pull off with the poppier, hip-hoppier hits of his latest offering, like “Sing.” With Rudimental. WaMu Theater, 800 Occidental Ave. S., wamutheatreseattle.com. 7:30 p.m. $69.40. All ages. JN